Barkley adds to England misery

Olly Barkley, in line for a midfield place against the All Blacks on Nov 5 at Twickenham, could miss England's first international of the season through a finger injury.

A further medical bulletin is expected today but indications from Bath are that Barkley broke a finger in Sunday's 23-55 defeat at Saracens and may be out for three to four weeks.

For England, the loss of Barkley represents the latest casualty of an injury-hit autumn that has sidelined a number of players, including two other midfield options in Jonny Wilkinson and Stuart Abbott.

If Barkley is ruled out then that would leave England pondering a midfield made up of the Newcastle pair of Jamie Noon and Mat Tait, alongside Sale's Charlie Hodgson at outside-half. Another option would be to use the Gloucester pair of Mike Tindall, who has yet to start a game this season, and the emerging Anthony Allen.

For Barkley, the injury follows a two-week break while he recovered from a painful kick to the groin sustained against Worcester.

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He was substituted in the late stages of Sunday's defeat which was Bath's poorest performance of a disappointing season. Steve Meehan, the acting head coach, said the display was unacceptable.

David Barnes, one of the senior players, added: "It is a disgrace and no one can be happy with their own performance. We've got too many players who play well one week and not the next."

Munster, the Heineken Cup champions, are also enduring a difficult season that has brought only two wins. The latest defeat came at Thomond Park on Friday, against Edinburgh, in the Magners League, which prompted captain Paul O'Connell to state that next Sunday's opening pool game at Leicester "could make or break our season".

O'Connell missed the 10-21 defeat but is expected to be fit for Leicester. Munster also report that Ronan O'Gara, who was substituted after a heavy tackle, should play.

Edinburgh hope that Chris Paterson will have recovered from a knee problem to play in Agen on Friday. Paterson limped off against Munster in the 55th minute, but the injury is reported not to be as serious as first feared.